How to get the most out of Windows 10 S

Windows 10 S is Microsoft's latest version of its Windows operating system. It's designed for students, and it's supposed to go on Google's Chromebook and Chrome OS ecosystem. What this means in practice is that 10 S is a more locked version of Windows where users are only able to install Windows Store applications. For the front page, by requiring applications to come from the Windows Store only, Microsoft can do a lot more to make sure the Windows 10 S is a fast and secure operating system.

In today's cloud-based world, your web browser is almost a more important choice than your operating system. If you are in Windows 10S, it means that you are stuck using Microsoft Edge. Google does not make Chrome for Windows 10 S, and even if it did, Microsoft will not let you set it as the default web browser. Microsoft's Edge browser is not my preference, but it still works for most of what you need to do. I work almost completely web-based, and between writing and browsing I have not really worked into problems. Flash is also available at 10S, although Edge will disable it by default, even on pages like the Microsoft Store.

However, the biggest irritation with Edge imports user data. While Edge on ordinary Windows can import bookmarks and other data from installed browsers, Windows 10 S can not grab data from other browsers. It's messy, but the easiest way to get all your Chrome or Opera data for Windows 10 S is to export bookmarks to an HTML file and import them manually. Alternatively, you can get another Windows 10 computer, sync your Chrome settings, import them to the edge, and then sync them to your Windows 10 S machine.

Similarly, Edge does not conveniently store any of my usernames or passwords, but using a password management service like LastPass (which works across the platform and is available through Windows 10 Store) will help with To simplify the process.

Frustrating, Windows 10 S is still Windows at the core so sites will still ask you to install apps (Yes, Google, I prefer to use Chrome but I can not! ), And installers Will even download the download as they normally would. You just can not install anything outside the store. Microsoft must redirect users to the Windows Store when they try to download .exe files on Windows 10 S, but it is unclear how far it is implemented and there is clearly more work to be done to make it clear to consumers .

Music

Hereafter we have music. Of course, if you use Microsoft's Groove Music service, you're already good at going, but I suppose it's about fewer people than Microsoft wants. More likely you are a Spotify user. While you may have been forced to use a mobile version of the Spotify app at a time, Microsoft now offers the standard desktop version of Spotify in the Windows Store so you can use it as you would any other computer.

If you are an Apple Music subscriber, you are out of luck right now. Apple does not offer a web player so you need iTunes. However, at Build 2017, Microsoft announced that it has reached an agreement with Apple, and will soon offer iTunes on Windows Store although we still do not have a fixed date for when it happens.

Of course, all web-based services like Pandora, Google Play Music, YouTube Music or Tidal will work fine in Edge.

Word Processing

If you buy a Windows 10 S machine, there is a good chance that you are a student or professional who needs some word processing at some point. Since this is Windows, you will probably use Microsoft Word to do that.

This is where things get a little complicated. Microsoft offers two versions of Office for Windows 10 S right now: A "preview" version of the full desktop office now available through the Windows Store and mobile version Office that Microsoft created for mobile devices like tablets and phones. (The mobile versions are hidden in search, but you can find them here .) Which one you are using is a matter of preference, but if you can Offering some of the more advanced features of Word and PowerPoint, I personally think that the mobile version is a little more streamlined to get things done quickly.

If you are not an Office 365 subscriber you will not really be able to use either a version of Office. In that case, Google Docs which you can access via Edge, probably your best bet.

Finally, if you're just looking for a quick text editor, Appy Text is the right way. It's free, fast and even supports markdown, making it perfect for jogging of quick notes or, say, writing guides for importing to your site's publishing system.

Something frustrating when you save documents in the cloud, you're pretty stuck with OneDrive or using web apps to access services like Dropbox or Google Drive – while you can install a Dropbox app from the Windows Store To view your files, you can not sync them without the full desktop app that you can not install on Windows 10 S.

E-mail

Microsoft's own built-in mail app is quite good, even with Gmail. There are also few options in the store, but your best bet is to just use Gmail in Edge and enable desktop notifications that allow you to receive regular Windows notifications.

Entertainment

Edge still works and for some reason you have a pathological reluctance to Netflix Hulu and most of the other video services have dedicated Windows Store apps. No matter what, you will be able to binge watch just fine.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Gaming

There is no way to get to your Steam library on Windows 10S, but you have access to the Windows Store for games, which is not so serious that Microsoft now pushes the Xbox Play Anywhere program to Cross-purchase between Xbox One consoles and Windows PCs. However, it's not that big deal, but if you're running Windows 10S, the computer you're using is probably not built for gaming anyway.

Image and Video

Can you do it in Paint? Paint is installed! You've even got Paint 3D! None? Okay, you have Photoshop Express in the store, which may clamp for a bit of light image editing, but if you try to do seriously creative work, Windows 10S is probably not the operating system for you.

Give up and install full Windows

See, you tried to run through Microsoft's hoops. You did it really! And you did it well. But fortunately, Microsoft also offers a upgrade from Windows 10 S to the full version of Windows 10. Check The Verge's Guide Here to get full Instructions on how to do it – even if you do not use a Surface Laptop, which currently offers Windows 10 Pro upgrade for free, there is a one-time $ 49 fee for the upgrade.

On the other hand, we see you across Google Chrome and Adobe products.